X5 4.4 - Sludge in engine and oil filter housing... help!

[chefwong]

Bolt Drain and Fill at 5 Qts - $60 on ride requiring Esso LT71141.
I just did another bolt and fill 2 weekends ago.
Pan Drop and Fill - IF memory serves me correct, it took around 8-9 qts.

Fluid ain't rocket science. Such a heated debate. DO what makes you comfortable. Just make sure you are putting in the correct fluids...

[motordavid]

OT
I orbit out, and then back into this thread...
I think I am trapped back in Debate class, in HS.

[m5james]

Hey guys....I like pie.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by m5james

Hey guys....I like pie.

I HATE PIE!

And here's the link that proves I'm right!

I Hate Pie!

[m5james]

How about rainbows, muffins, cupcakes or guns?

This subject is like debating which is better, democrat or republican...do whatever makes you feel better. I'm just trying to lighten the mood.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by m5james

I'm just trying to lighten the mood.

I hear ya'

I find these type of "which oil is best, how often should I change oil, etc" discussions to usually be interesting at first, when some data, facts, or additional views and information are posted. But inevitably, once the facts and other info runs out, they sorta lose their usefulness.

Not that I'm not guilty of similar behavior at times....

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by m5james

How about rainbows, muffins, cupcakes or guns?

This subject is like debating which is better, democrat or republican...do whatever makes you feel better. I'm just trying to lighten the mood.

While I agree with do whatever makes you feel better I don't agree this falls along the lines of which is better. Which is better is subjective. Whether changing the ATF results in subsequent failure of the transmission is not. Either there's a correlation or there is not. And so far no correlation has been proven.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by sunny5280

so far no correlation has been proven.

Correct.

And so far no correlation between not changing ATF and shorter transmission life has been "proven" either.

When it comes to maintenance actions, very few have actually been "proven." "Proof" is often hard to come by. I know someone who did their very first oil change on a Toyota Corolla at 25,000, which had the factory fill of non-synthetic oil, 25 years ago. Their engine was still going strong at 100,000 miles when they sold it. But that's not proof and I still think I'll change my oil more often than that and pay for synthetic oil.

So again, it's a judgment call, and people have to make it on the information they feel is important and/or the "experts" they trust.

I myself believe in changing the AFT; however, I can see the argument for not changing it, and I am open to the distinct possibility than I am wrong.

If anyone ever comes-up with some hard data that is statistically significant, I'll be very interested.

[sunny5280]

Originally Posted by Penguin

Correct.

And so far no correlation between not changing ATF and shorter transmission life has been "proven" either.

And this is why I say "Do whatever makes you feel better" instead of "You have to do it".

[faz]

I actually read through almost all of this thread.

This is a really good thread, in that, anyone who doesn't have a firm opinion on whether they should or should not change their transmission fluid (especially at a high mileage), ... who ends up finding this thread through a search and reads through this thread.... will most definitely NOT change the transmission fluid, based on the materials presented by both sides AND the manner in which they were presented.